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Topic Review (Newest First)

01-09-2014 09:42 PM

beaujasons

Re: 1976 ranger 24

If you still have the kr24 I have just bought one. Any clubs or groups you know of for these boats? Sails??? Cheers

11-05-2013 01:57 PM

brianhess

Re: 1976 ranger 24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petrouschka

Brian,

Where do you keep your boat? Somebody put one in at Brownsville a few months ago. It looks like a fun boat.

It's at the West Bay Marina in Olympia.

11-04-2013 04:28 PM

Petrouschka

Re: 1976 ranger 24

Brian,

Where do you keep your boat? Somebody put one in at Brownsville a few months ago. It looks like a fun boat.

08-12-2013 10:30 PM

brianhess

Re: 1976 ranger 24

If you go to the Yahoo!Groups, you'll find that a bunch of us Ranger 24 owners are hanging out there. The Ranger 20 owners association was active up until last year when they disbanded. The online community is still lively, so who knows? Perhaps if we have enough Ranger owners that want to get "organized" we could start another group for Western Washington? Perhaps including the rest of the US and Canada?

Kent Ranger Boats manufactured Ranger 24s in the 1970s. Not as many 24s were built as their simular sister boat, the Ranger 20 was build in the thousands. Both of them were designed by Raymond Richards, a brilliant naval architect from Seattle. I have had the pleasure of owning both a Ranger 20 and now a Ranger 24. Most people confuse Kent Ranger Boats with the California Rangers--completely different company and designers. Kent Ranger Boats sold out it's molds and company assets in the early 90s, but their Ranger 20s are so numerous and are still very highly sought after and popular today. In my opinion, the Ranger 24 is a 'best kept secret' and if you read further you'll understand why.

Also, the Haida 26 MKII was still the same hull, but the cabin top was changed shortly after they began production. I have yet to find a Haida 26 MKI for sail in the region, but if I ever do, I will jump on that one too!

If you look at the Ranger 20 (also a fractional sloop), you can see some of the same design concept in the hull shape. That shape is a trademark teardrop that really opens up the speed of the vessel as it heels, increasing the hull length. Very stable design even in rough water, very athletic for a pocket cruiser.

Some people argue that the fractional sloop is faster than a masthead. I think it mostly falls on the abilities of the sailor and how well they pilot and know their own vessel. So I think the verdict is still out on that one. Perhaps they are more efficient. I, personally, haven't seen a notable difference.

My boat was raced by the previous owners. They loved their twenty+ year run with the boat so much that they kept a complete suit of matched/numbered sails (nine all together) and upgraded the rigging. With the right modifications to the rig architecture to bring it forward into the 21st century, and the right electronics package, I believe that you can take this vessel anywhere in the world--except Padagonia. . . . Especially if you install a rugged dodger for use in the nasty weather, or to get in out of the sun.

These boats were built with positive flotation in them. The open lazerette design allows for an almost instant self bailing of the ocean-worthy cockpit design. If you look at circumnavigating boats, they generally have small and efficient cockpits. I also find the square footage/area of the mainsail to headsail proportions ideal for close hauled sailing. There isn't much weather helm that is inherent in sailboats with large mains. I've sailed other vessels of comparable size and sail area and find that the Ranger 24 is superior in many ways for solo sailing. You can single hand this boat and with the right autohelm or even bungee cords (weather permitting) the boat will sail itself.

They move quickly with little help from nature. Light weight enough to navigate in light winds, and heavy enough to be safe in foul weather.

I love my Ranger 24. It is a great boat. It will be hard to find another boat that I would like just as much in the same size range, other than--another Ranger 20 or 24.

08-12-2013 04:45 PM

okanenai

Re: 1976 ranger 24

Hey Brian,

I just bought a KR24.. did you have any luck finding more info online? it seems to be pretty sparse out there

04-08-2013 06:28 AM

brianhess

Re: 1976 ranger 24

I bought the Ranger 24. I fell in love with it at the dock. They are a very cool boat and I missed my Ranger 20 (It was my favorite of all the boats I've owned.) The 24 and 20 have identically shaped hull structure for exception of the fin keel on the 24. I like that it has a tow rail that goes from bow to stern and this makes it nice to set up blocks anywhere i want to accommodate any of the seven sails that she came with. This week I get to play with her finally and spend a few days on her doing some badly needed cleaning and maintenance with is a labor of love to me. Then I will take her out for some fun.

03-24-2013 10:52 AM

Alex W

Re: 1976 ranger 24

Brian: matthewhill (or a similar account name) is a frequent poster on Sailnet who recently bought a KR24. You can look for his threads and get a good idea of how it sails.

03-24-2013 06:38 AM

brianhess

Re: 1976 ranger 24

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasswagler

yeppers there is a couple. we've got one. on the paper work it's called a
ranger 24 ... it's 24 ft long anyway. don't ask me. he said it was a ranger. we figured it was 24 ft long so its a ranger 24...right? when i say were new at this we are. trying to send picture but its not easy. it need lessons....lol

Do you still have your Ranger 24? I am looking into buying one that's in Olympia, WA. My first boat was a Ranger 20. I realize that this is a very old thread, but you might still check in every now and again.

The Ranger 24 is a Kent, WA built boat. They are commonly referred to as Kent Rangers to distinguish them from the California Rangers (a different company).

Your boat was designed by Raymond Richards and is a variant of the ocean/blue water boat model the "Haida 26." Richards designed it to be blue water worthy with the cockpit and lazerette configuration.

Take care!

Brian Hess
Port Orchard, WA

09-05-2009 07:05 PM

wasswagler

yeppers thats my boat. love it. a kent ranger. i like it better them the other rangers. has a style of its own. thank you for showing me that. there are clubs out there for kent rangers. been looking at them. we took it out sailing for the first time last week .....wow that was so want to do it again.

08-27-2009 02:25 PM

Faster

The Kent Rangers are very different boats from the Mull/California Rangers. Ray Richards, the designer of the 24 also designed the Haida 26, which looks kinda similar in a way. Kent's 26 is, IIRC, almost a Bayfield style design.